Controlling means for motor-driven vehicles.



w. E. TULLAR. v CONTROLLING MEANS FOR MOTOR DRIVEN VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28, I914. 1,209,782.-

4 SHEETS-SHEET I- IQ (1 k ns W Q2 [/11 hart/(54% Patented Dec. 26,1916

'W-E- TULLAR.

CONTROLLING MEANS FOR MOTOR DRIVEN VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED sz iaflza. I914.

L ik fi Patented Dec. 26,1916.

. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Z W. E. TULLAR. CONTROLLING MEANS FOR MOTOR DRIVEN VEHICLES.

' APPLLGAT'ION FILED SEPT. 28'. 1914.

1,209,782. Patented Dec. 26,1916,

4 SHEET$SHEET 3- Will/[MM Z5 Z7 W. E. TllLLAR.

CONTROLLING MEANS FOR MOTOR DRIVEN VEHICLES. 'APPLIC-ATION FILED SEPT-28.1914.

1 09,782; I Patent-ed Dec. 26,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Cit

Application ing L :spe I Flt E1. lnvcntlon ngiing' met, A

emergency tar-eke. J. etc so pieced. to interfere access to the dri'vors sent and to iver to shift his position in e the same. These and other W3 a'fie i ricsirabio to discover Without the objectionobjectiomg 1a a controlling means oioie hoof ievers. y

it is an object, thetefore of my invention to provide ev ccntroiiing means for motocdrivcn vehicics in which pedals are substituted for the orcvious'ly necessary bond vers withou increasing the number of peatais heretofoteuseci; A further obect my invention is provis on controlling memos composei of o. m imam n e. her of relatively simg'ie parts; the operation of which neecssi' .tes t e minimum. movement of the chive from position assumed.- in steeringthe vehicle v still further object f my invention is the provision of nieces the machine so that it not be used by mnmthmrixeii persozis "the? and miwmtagzee of my T5311 ion wt}? Foe apps-rent it betterlimi er rod by reference to the following specificw Mon when read connection with the 5.0- wom mnying drawings in Whici1-- Figure v is a vertical section ti'irolzgh a. poetics. of motor-driven who si'iowmgg my intent. m mounted therein; 11g; 2 IS a,

perspective view oft om'rtmii'ing meehw with the operating in running: position; Fig is a perspective view of the controlling" eoimnism with the operating evers in their respective positions to i'e'ieose the clutch set the EcVeXEseMa-keJ;

for securely locking a perspective View of the controlling mechanism wit 1 the operating levers in their )ectivo position to release the speed hanging mechanism and set the emergency nuke; Fig. 2" is :2, plan view of the speed elector lever zmci its quadrant with the leer in running position corresponding to ign the lever being in section; Fig. 3* a similar view with the lever in position corresponding to 3; Fig, i is a similar View with the lever in neutral position corresponding to at; Fig. 5 is a detail show ing the inching means for the pedals; Fig. 3 plan View the casing with the cover removed showing the SPBBK} selecting mechanism: with the connecting rods broken away; Fig. '4" is a lot-Lil partially in section of the speed selector iever; Fig. 8 is a section on the iine 8--8 of Fig. 9; Fig. 9 is a, plan View of the selecting mechanism looking upward showing the connecting rods; Fig. 10 is a, plum ViGW oithe speed selector mechanism sl'lo'wing a slightly different form thereof; it a vertical section through the speed selecting mechanism on the line Iii--11 of B 10; 2 is it vertical section ti'wough a portion of the speed selecting mechanism on the line lit--12 of Fig. 11; and Fig. 13 is a detail in section of the 1ocking; means for the connecting rod.

My invention is adapted to be used in connection with the mechanism disclosed in my aiioweai applicatiom Serial No. 681,917, .i'iiet'i Mel-ch 6, 19132, for clutch transmissions but is not limited to such use since it may 0b-' viously be useci with other forms of trans mission mechanism.

iileferring to rlmwings, [indicates the body of '21 motoedriven vehicle provided with o floor 2 and foot hoard A. steering wiwol 4 is mounted in the column 5 dis- )oscd in. proper i'eietion. within the bodyl. Beneath the floor 2 the casing 6 is secured in any suitable manner to the under frame and is :ldspteci to contain the speed selector mechanism" Mounted on the casing 8 anethc brackets carrying the bearing members 8 for the rock shafts 9 and 10. At the ends of the rock she 9' and 11' the arms 11 and 12 are, respectively, secured and are 'adaptedto be connected. by means (it-suitable connecting rods to the speed changing mechanism (not shown) The speed 'che'siging mechanism may he of the clutch type disclosed in my allowed a pii cation previously referred to o type.

may be of the sliding gear or other suitable Secured to the rock shafts 9 and 10 between the brackets 7 and 8 are the arms 13, 1b and 14, 15, respectively; The sliding bars 17, 18, 19 and 20 are mounted in the casing 6, extend beyond the same and are connected through members 21, 22, and 2t and a pin and slot connection. with the armsllfi, 14-, 1:3 and 16. respectively. Each of the bars 1.7, 18, 19 and 20 is provided near its end with: slot 25, the purpose of which will presently appear.

'llherod 28 is slid ably mounted in. suitable bearings at one end of the casing 6 and is provided at one end with a slotted member 27 adapted to engage a pin 28 on the bet crank lever 29 which is in. turn actuated through the connecting rod 30 from the members 31 and 32. the latter being prefen ably disposed Within the steering column 5 and operable at its upper end by means of a lever 36 moving); over a quad'ant 37. By moving the lever 36 in either direct-ion on its quadrant the rod is moved transversely of the casing 6 in its bearings.

The rod 26 has secured thereto a pin 3i which is adapted to engage one of a plurality of openings 39 in the track all), which is movable longitudinally of the casing and is normally held in its 'lorward position by means of the swings ll engaging the plan gets 42 attached to the track 40. li'l'ounted in the track and slidable long'ituilinall thereof is a selector element or tooth i3 having; an opening" therein. to acemnniodate the bin 38 Which asses thcrotln'oinl'h. The tooth l3 is aila 'ited to slidinrrl v e113, the slot in one o" be rods 1'? l8, l9 and 530, depending on the ositimi of the tooth 4-23 in the track all, I

Connected to the tra e1; is a member let extending rearwardly of: the casingand operatively engaging a l sliaped lever l5 pivoted in the casing. Secured outside the casing 6 and pivoted thereto are the footpedal levers 4-6 and 4:7, 'eVer :6 constituting the means for actuating the clutehreleasing means and tor-freeing: the speed selector mechanism and lever 47 constituting actuat ing means for the service and emergency brake operating means. Pivoted at one side of the casing: the lever 48 having" an end 49 which engages the member 50 secured to the lever 46, whereby the lever 48 is held in operative relation with the lever 46 until the former has been mortal to the position indicated in Fig. l When the lever 48 is antomatically dropped. by the lever to and is held. in the position indicated by means of a bell-crank leve- 50 (see "Big. 5) pivoted to the casing 6 and connected to the lever 46 by means of a, link 51'. through a pin and slot connection 52. lt will be apparent that as the lever 46 is moved forwardly, *arrying the lever 48, it will turn. the bell-crank lever momma '50 about its axis through the medium of of the lovers 5% and are provided with ends 56 and 57 which are adapted to be interengaged with the members 58 and 59, respectively, mounted on the lever ell, during a portion of the travel of this lever. Suitable locking means, such as a bell-crank lever 50 connected by a link 51 to the lever to, is provided and adapted to lock the lever 54-, and hence the service brake, in the set position indicated in Fig. -vvhen lever 5 L is no longer interengaged with the lever 17. The lever 4:7 is provided near its upper end with suitable means, such as the hook-shaped member (31, for interengaging during a portion 01'' the travel of the lever ll with the 'l'-shaped lever lo, the lever e5 being moved rearwardly by either of the levers lG or 4:7

to unlock the selector mechanism which? may then be moved to selecting position by operating the lever 36. Both of the levers ll? and t! may be provided with suitable pedals (32.

lin order to prevent the movement of any of. the bars 17, 18, 19 and :20, other than the one selected, I have provided the sliding rod 26 with the members extending on either side of the pin. 33, which members are adapted to engage with notches fi l in the under side of the bars 17, 18. 19 and; 20. The members 63 are spaced apart on the rod 26 a sullicient distance to engage and hold the rods 18 and 19 when the pin 38 is in its central or neutral position, and it will be readily understood that since the rods 18 and 19 are connected to the shafts S) and 10, IQSPQC tlflj, and the rods 17 and 20 are similar-v connected thereto, when the members 65 are in neutral position all of the rods Will he held against movement. "When, however, the members 63 are moved in either direction by the movement ofrod to a selecting position one of the rods 17, 18, 19 or 20 will be engaged thereby While the adjacent rod is free for movement.

The lever 36 which is pivoted on the quadrant 37, adapted to be mounted on the steering column, is provided with a hook-shaped member 64 adapted to engage the notlj'hes 65 in the quadrant 37. The lever 36 com-- prises a member 66 inclosed Within a cylindrical casing 67 and a spring 68 is mounted Fig.

Within the cylinder and bears against shoulders on the portion pin (19 extends through the cylindrical portion 67 and is adapted to enter an opening 70 in a lock cylinder 7]. mounted in the cylindrical casing 67. The lock cylinder 71' is adapted to be turned by means of a. key 72 and may be provided with suitable tumblers (not shown), asis well known in the art, to prevent the turning of the cylinder except by the proper key. When the cyliniler is disposed in the relation shown in Fig. 7 the portion 66 of the lever 36 may be forced rea-rwardly to disengage the member (54. fiom the notch with which it is engaged, whereupon the lever may be turned about the ql'ladrant. lVhen, however, the cylinder turned so that the opening 70 is clisplacedvfrom the position indicated in Tit is impossibleto move the lever about the quadrant and the selecting mechanism is, therefore.securely locked.

The operation of my. device will, it is believed, be apparent without further deseription. The vehicle beingat restwith the levers in theposition indicated-in Fig. 2, the brakes are released and the clutch. engaged. The lever-36011 the steering column is in neutral position and hence the selector mechanism within the casing (i. is in a similar position Avitheach of .therods 17, 18, 19 and 20 held by members 63 against move ment. "To start the vehicletheulever' tfi is moved forwardly carrying the lever 48 which releases the clutch. The lever-l8 is moved to. the. position, indicated in Fig} and is locked iu this position while the lever 46 engages theiT-shaped lever ehiand moves it to its rea-rmost. positio11,-thereb moving the member 44 and the track 40 rearivardly of the easingto free the pin 38 from the holes 39 therein. As soon as the pin 38 has been freed the lever 36 may be moved in either direction on thequadrant and a corresponding movement o'f-the selector element 43 into engagement with one of the notches 25 :results. Thismovement further releases the: rod-which, is engaged by the selector element. 43; from'the member 63 and locks the remaining rods .t'rominovement. Upon releasing-theplever Mtit is; forced forward'lv by, the springs ll in the casing;

(5, the pin" 38 entering oneof the openings 39, thus locking the selector mechanism. The rod which is-enga-ged hvthe selector element 431's enrriedfiforward by thev springs l 41. and sets the speed-changing mechanism. The lever 46 then releases; the. lever .48.

which 'interengages,therewith, :and. both. levers. moveforwardlyto allowythe clutch to be engaged. Assuming that the lever 36 hasbeen moved to'the posit on correspending tovthe lowest speed, wonder to moi-ease the speed, the operation just described is repeated and the lever 36 moved 66 and the casing 67. A

. shaped lever 4-5 and thereutith. and .theloclr which .ment of the lever 36 from neutral position ,it will be readily seen that, the brakes may 77- adapted to engage into the succeeding notch. It is to be noted, of eoursei that the levers l1 and 12 on the shafts 9 and 10 are connected by suitable means to a 'speed ohanging mechanism inch-may be of any ordinary form and drawn been resting in the position indicated in Fig. 2 is then picked up bythe leverei and .moved to.the position indieated in Fig. at;

The leversband are adapted. to be con nected in any suitable manner with the brake meelmnisni not shown) and constitute the operating means for the brakes,-54 being-the service brake operatingmeens end 55 the emergency brake operating means As the lever 47, moves rearwardly it engages the liuterlocks j therewith through the medium of the member 61. in

mov ng the leverlfi rea-rwardly the selector mechanism is unlocked and the leverflt'lmay be moved. to neutral position. When the lever 3h has been moved to neutral. position the lever is prevented from returning and through the mterengagementof the lever 4:7 preventsmoveto the position indi" diopped and. locked 121 osition. The lever which hes beheld secnrelyin set position and allmovew ment of the vehicle prevented.

In Figs. 10 to.13 of the;drawings1 have indicated a slightly-differentform of myinvention in which two rods 72 and 73 are sul stituted for the rods 17, 18,- 19 midfllhas previously described. lhe 'rods 72 and 73 slidably engage the track 40 at one end and are movable transversely of the casing by means. of a rod 26 connected to the operating means on. thesteeI'ing. column exactly as previously explained. Each of the rods 72 and 73isprm ded atgits end with the arms 7% and 75 having hooloshaped ends 76 and similar members 78 and 79 fixed to the shafts?) and .10. The

. operating mechanism. other than fisnoted, is ident cal with that. *The rods :72. and .73 aremoved transversely previously described.

of the easingby means of the rod .26 toengage either oijthe members-78 and 79,:Which. [as indieatml in. F g: :10. are mounted,- in stag gel-ed relation .on thesha its 9 and 10.

. When one otthese members 78. or '79. lias been encaged and the Teshaped lever lfi isreleesed the springs 41 will: forcethe track 40 forwardly. thereby turning the members 78 or 79 and with it the shaft 9 or 10 about its axis. The shafts 9 and 10 are provided with levers 11 and 12, as previously described, which are connected in a. suitable manner to the speed-changing mechanism. In Fig. 13 I have disclosed a locking means for holding the levers 11 and 12 from movement except when actuated by the movement of the rods 72 or 73. This means comprises a pair of spring pins mounted in a bracket 81 disposed beneath the. ends of the levers 11 and 12, one of the pins 80 being mounted on either side Off the end of the levers 11 and 12. It will not only be readily understood that the lever 11 or 12 can be forced in either direction past the spring pins 80 but that these pins will hold the levers from movement except when actuated by the rods 72 or 73.

\Vhile I have, in describing the embodiment of my invention as disclosed in Figs. 10 to 13, stated that the rods 72 and 73 are movable transversely of the casing (i in order that the members 76 and 77 may engage members 78 and 7 9 it is obvious that these rods maybe so mounted as to be movable only longitudinally of the casing and that the shafts 9 and 10- may by suitable means be moved-transversely of the casing in their bearings to engage the members 7 8 and 79 with the corresponding members 76 and 77.

It will be readily seen that I have provided a controlling device for motor-driven vehicles which has many advantages over the devices of the prior art. In my device hand levers, except that mounted on the steering column, are eliminated. Shifting of gears or other speed-changing devices is absolutely prevented until the clutch is released since the speed selector mechanism cannot be unlocked until the actuating lever has moved past the clutch releasing position. I have provided a single means for operating the service and emergency brakes successively and it ,will be apparent that it is impossible to use the emergency brake until the service brake is set. Moreover, quicker brake action is possible because both brakes are set by the movement of a single lever. Finally I have provided means for locking the selector mechanism against operation by unauthorized persons but also provide means for locking both brakes in set position when desirable so that all movement of the vehicle is prevented.

It will be understood that various changes in the details of construction and the ar rangement of the parts may be resorted to without departing vfrom the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of its benefits, the forms herein disclosed being merely preferred embodiments thereof.

I claim:

1. Ina device of the character described, the combination of means for operating a service brake, means for operating an emergency brake, and a single means for succes sively actuating said operating means.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a service brake operating lever, an emergency brake operatinglever, and a single means for successively actuating said levers.

In a device of the character described, the combination of a service brake operating lever, an emergency brake operating lever, and a single lever adapted to successively actuate said operating lever.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a service brake operating lever, an emergency brake operating lever, a single lever adapted to successively actu ate said operating levers, and means on each of said operating levers adapted to be inter engaged with said actuating lever during a part of the movement thereof.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of means for operating a service brake, means for operating an emergency brake, a single means for successively actuating said operating means, and means for locking said service brake operating means in set position.

6. In a device of the character described,

the combination of means for operating. a service brake, means for operating an emergency brake, a single means for successively actuating said operating means, and'.means.

for locking said actuating'means in set position.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a service brake operating lever, an emergency brake operating lever, a single lever adapted to successively actuate said. operating levers, means on each of said operating levers adapted to be interengaged with said actuating lever during a part of the movement thereof, and-means for lockin-g said service brake operating lever when it is disengaged from said actuating lever.

8. In a device of thecharacter described, the combination of a support, a service brake operating lever, an emergency brake operating lever, a single lever adapted to successively actuate said operating levers,

means on each of said operating-levers adapted to be interengaged With said actuat- I ing lever during a part of the movement thereof, abell-crank lever pivotally mounted o, said support, one arm of saidbell-crank lever engaging said service brake operating lever, and means for connecting the other arm, of said bell-crank lever with said actu-. ating lever, wherebysald service brake operating lever is locked when it is disengaged from said actuating lever.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a plurality of means for operating a speed-changing mechanism, a selector element adapted to selectively engage and actuate one of said means, means for locking said element, a lever for unlocking said element, service and emergency brake operating means, and an actuating lever therefor, and means for collectively preventing the movement of said unlocking and brake-act atin levers.

10. In dev ce of the character described, the combination of a plurality of means for operating a speed-changing mechanism, a movable selector element for selectively engaging and actuating one of said means, an

operating lever adapted to be mounted on the steering column of a motor-driven vehicle, and means for connecting said lever with said selector element, whereby said selector element may be moved to selecting and neutral positions'by said lever, means for locking said selector .elementin the (losired selecting positlon, a lever for unlock ing said element, means for operating service and emergency brakes and a lever for successively actuating said means, means for interlocking said selector element, unlocln WILLIAM E. TULLAR.

Witnesses: WM. 0. BELT, v a.

Ennns'r H. MERCHANT. 

